ASIA Families Hosts 2026 Camp Rice, Bringing Together More Than 130 Adoptees and Family Members
ASIA Families Hosts 2026 Camp Rice, Bringing Together More Than 130 Adoptees and Family Members
ASIA Families, led by Executive Director Grace Song, held its annual “Camp Rice 2026” from the 23rd through the 25th at the Pearlstone Conference & Retreat Center in Reisterstown, Maryland.
More than 130 Korean adoptees, adoptive parents, adult adoptees, and their children from approximately 40 families in the Washington, D.C. area gathered for a meaningful time of learning about Korean culture and identity, while encouraging and supporting one another.
“Camp Rice is more than just a summer camp,” said Grace Song, executive director of Asia Families. “It is a place where adoptees can learn about their roots, support one another through their life experiences, and build a community that will continue throughout their lives.”
Held under this year’s theme, “Friends of Korea,” the camp featured a variety of programs focused on Korean history and culture, as well as opportunities for adoptees to develop a positive understanding of their heritage and share their lifelong journeys of exploring their roots.
Jonathan Moon, a Korean adoptee and producer of the documentary You Are So Lucky, gave a presentation on Korean history and his personal life journey, offering participants a deeply moving and relatable experience. Chana Bilek spoke about the impact of policy changes involving the transfer of adoption records to government agencies.
The adult adoptee program, “Healing with Our Ancestors,” led by Dr. Holly McGinnis (Korean name: Lee Hwa-young) and Kim Sue Stevens, encouraged participants to reflect on their identities and personal journeys through activities including kimchi-making, Korean tea ceremony and meditation, bracelet-making inspired by the Korean concept of jeong, and creating self-portrait icons.
Children and teenagers participated in Korean cultural activities and team-building programs organized by age group. Adoptive parents also had opportunities to learn from adoption professionals and panels of adult adoptees about supporting their children’s identity development and hearing diverse experiences of life after adoption.
Kim, an adult adoptee, shared an emotional moment during the camp, saying, “When I saw Advisor Chan-soo Kim adjusting my hanbok, I suddenly remembered the time a few years ago when my son and I went to Korea. I put on a hanbok for the first time at a hanbok shop in Busan, and I remember becoming so emotional that I had tears in my eyes. Seeing him adjust the hanbok brought that memory back, and I was deeply moved.”
Sellah Art, led by Director Jung-hee Kim, added to the significance of the event with a traditional Korean cultural performance. Lee Brothers also supported the event through Advisor Chan-soo Kim Holly by providing Korean snacks, ramen, and other food items.
Since its establishment in 2009, Asia Families has provided a variety of post-adoption services throughout the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas, including Korean cultural school programs, adult adoptee programs, Korea heritage trips, parent education, and scholarship support.
The event was supported by the Overseas Koreans Agency.
Website: www.asiafamilies.org
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